O.K. I need Help!!!!!! I am doing a three level stacked cake this weekend. Is it supposed to go in this order from bottom to top....
Base
Cake
Cardboard
Cake
Cardboard
Cake
I know I need to dowel each level and use a center dowel, but is that the order? Do you make the cardboard the same size as the cake level, or a little bigger in order to pick it up? Also, I have almost an hour transport, do I stack it before I leave or when I get there, I assume I would put flowers, etc. on when I get there. Thanks for the Help!!!!!! I'm really stressing over this one! As you can see from my pics, all I've done are mostly kids cakes!
Deep breathes first off. Your order is correct. Do not put the cake together until it's at the event location. The cake boards should be the same size as the cake it's holding. Dowel each layer before leaving for the event as well - that way your not measuring and cutting dowels at the event. Saves time. Do as much as you can at home and then finish decorating there. Bring extra icing, bags, tips, spatula, anything you may need "Just in Case". Putting together stacked cakes takes planning. Get yourself organized and figure out what can be done at home and what must be done at the event. Make sure someone goes with you to help you out. Even if you find that you don't need them - it would be better if they are there even if it's just for support. Being your first - better to be over prepare than under prepared. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to set up and decorate. You don't want to be standing there piping decorations when the party starts. Stacked construction takes time and patience. Good luck 
Thank you so much!!!! One more question, if I make the cardboard the exact same size as the cake level, is it just a given that there might be finger smudges in the icing when I put it on the other layer? Those can just be fixed with flowers, etc. right?
That's the FUN part 
/! Yes, you usually end up with smudge marks but one of the CC veteran's posted a way to help with the smudges. When she puts the dowels in the cake after she cut and measured all of them- she doesn't press them down all the way - she leaves about an inch of each dowel sticking up out of the cake - that way when you place the cake on top of the dowels - it slows the "dropping" of the cake and allows you a chance to get your fingers out of the way without any (or as much) damage as possible. Did I explain that right? I hope so.
I like to use the dowels a little different to keep my fingers out of the way. I push them all the way down then pull them back up with a pair of tongs. For me, this ensures the weight will push them all the way to the bottom. I tried it the other way and it didn't work as well for me.
Also sprinkle some powdered sugar in the area the cake will sit so when the tier is removed your icing won't stick!
Make sure you put a smear of icing on the cake board before you put the cake on it to keep the cake from sliding around on the board.
You won't need the center dowel if you are going to assemble on site.
Give yourself at least an hour to set up.
Cover both sides of the cakeboard with clear contact paper or foil so the icing/cake won't soak into the board.
Hi,
Puting a border on right after stacking your cake is a HUGE help !!
Even easer is placing ribbon around the base of each cake after stacking 
!
Good Luck !
God Provides,
Crista B.
I will be doing my first three tiered cake Friday also. I'm very nerveous about it. How long should you give yourself for stacking and doing the border at the site? Also, do you put it on your turntable to do the border or do it straight on the table and turn the cake as needed. I'm just starting to decorate and every cake I do is a learning experience for me, but I'm loving it. Do you put a dowel in the center of each layer or not? I have read some place to do it and other places say not to.
Give yourself at least an hour, more if you think you need it. I just walk around the cake and put the border on. You don't want to try to move the stacked cake off the little turntable-recipe for disaster 
You only need a center dowel if you have to travel with the cakealready stacked (not the preferredmethod but sometimes a necessary evil) or if the cake requires extra stability such as a whimsical cake.
Good luck ladies!!
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